Diagnostic Controls & Presets Inaugural High-Relief December 1921 Strike
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
1922 Low Relief: ~85 Tons (Single Strike)
To force 90% silver metal into sculptor Anthony de Francisci's deep concave recesses, coin presses were operated at destructive tonnages, leading to broken dies after only a few hundred impressions.
1922 Low Relief: 21 Rays (3 Rays removed)
Chief Engraver George T. Morgan altered the hubs in January 1922 by flattening the fields, lowering the relief of Liberty's cheek and hair, and eliminating three rays beneath the eagle's perch.
Pure Silver: 0.77344 Troy Ounces (24.057 g)
Minted between December 26 and December 31, 1921 to fulfill the Pittman Act requirements. Exact diameter of 38.1 mm with standard 118-reeded edge.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Exceptional preservation with booming cartwheel satin luster across deep bowl-shaped fields; virtually unseen grade ceiling.
One of only ~10 known experimental matte finish presentation specimens struck for Mint officials and dignitaries.
Immaculate specimen with needle-sharp hair curls, pristine tiara spikes, and shimmering champagne-golden periphery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the 1921 Peace Dollar struck in High Relief?
In 1921, the US Commission of Fine Arts held a competition to design a new silver dollar commemorating the end of World War I ('Peace'). Sculptor Anthony de Francisci won with a breathtaking high-relief neoclassical portrait modeled on his wife Teresa. Because the law required new designs to be struck before the end of the calendar year, the Mint rushed into production on December 26, 1921 with Francisci's original high-relief dies.
Why did the Mint abandon High Relief after 1921?
The high relief caused two fatal production problems: First, the Philadelphia Mint had to use excessive hydraulic press pressure (requiring up to three blows per coin), which broke expensive steel dies at an alarming rate. Second, the coins were concave and could not be stacked neatly in commercial bank teller trays. In early 1922, Chief Engraver George T. Morgan flattened the dies to create low-relief business strikes.
How can you easily identify a 1921 High Relief from later Peace Dollars?
The 1921 Peace Dollar has distinct features: (1) Deeply concave, bowl-shaped fields; (2) The rays of Miss Liberty's tiara are sharply pointed and extend directly to the rim; (3) The reverse eagle perches on a jagged mountain crag with 24 distinct rays of light, whereas 1922 and later dollars have only 21 rays and flatter fields.
What is the mintage of the 1921 High Relief Peace Dollar?
Exactly 1,006,473 pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint between December 26 and December 31, 1921. None were struck at Denver or San Francisco. Because they were released into general circulation in January 1922, most surviving examples are worn, making Mint State 65 and higher coins exceptionally valuable.
What are the most common die varieties for the 1921 Peace Dollar?
The most famous varieties are cataloged in the VAM system, including VAM-3 (featuring a dramatic die crack running through the reverse rays and olive branch) and several obverse doubled die varieties displaying doubling on 'LIBERTY' and the tiara spikes.
What is the weight, diameter, and silver content of the 1921 Peace Dollar?
The coin adheres to traditional US silver dollar standards: 26.73 grams total weight, 90% silver and 10% copper (0.77344 troy ounces of pure silver), a diameter of 38.1 millimeters, and a reeded edge.
Did the 1921 Peace Dollar initially feature a broken sword?
Yes. Anthony de Francisci's original reverse plaster model depicted an eagle clutching a broken sword to symbolize the disarmament and end of World War I. However, when newspapers published photos of the design in December 1921, the public misinterpreted the broken sword as a symbol of American defeat or cowardice. Chief Engraver George T. Morgan frantically worked through the night scraping the broken sword off the master dies before striking began.